The
President of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum", His Excellency
Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, will be in the Republic of China from 11
to 18 January 2000.It is
foreseen that he will visit the people suffering from the earthquake of
21 September 1999, which devastated the area around Taichung.To all, the Archbishop will assure them of the solidarity of the
Holy Father, bringing the special greetings of His Holiness to the
approximately 300,000 Catholics of the Island.

The programme of the Archbishop Cordes also foresees his being conferred
with a "honoris causa" Degree in Literature from the Fu Jen
Catholic University in Taipei, which will be presided at by His Eminence
Cardinal Paul Shan, President of the Chinese Regional Episcopal
Conference.During the
Ceremony, the President of"Cor
Unum" will deliver an address on inculturation, one of the central
themes of the recent Synod of Bishops for Asia.

Archbishop Cordes is responding to an invitation of the President of the
Republic of China, Dr. Lee Teng-hui, who will confer on him the "Order
of the Brilliant Star" in recognition of the work undertaking by
the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum" throughout the world, in
favour of human and Christian development of people, and of various
Catholic Organisations engaged in working in this area.

The trip is another expression of the universal dimension of the
commitment of the Church, a work that the Holy Father in these years
continues to carry out himself.